Travel to Japan: 10 Things to Know About Japanese Culture

Japanese Culture: Things Must Know Before Traveling to Japan

Things to know about Japanese culture – The Japanese nation is a nation that is very polite and courteous, so the ethics are an integral part of daily life. Although they do not expect people abroad to follow their habit entirely, the attempt to follow the manners of Japan would be greatly appreciated. So, if you want to travel to Japan, you must know the things to know before visiting Japan to make your vacation easier.

10 Things to Know About Japanese Culture

Here are some tips that must be known before setting foot in the country are ultra-modern and that old country. This ten things you must know before traveling to Japan.

1. Bowing means greeting (Ojigi)

Greetings with bowing are something that we often encounter among the Japanese people, but for people overseas, handshake time acquaintance also frequently used, followed by a polite nod. Getting bent attitude is the indicates that degree of respectful person.

Bowing means greeting (Ojigi)

2. Wear a mask if colds

Use a mask when attacked by influenza, so as not to transmit the disease to others. Therefore in the streets would often we find people of Japan were concealed. This point is one of the things to know about Japanese Culture.

3. Never give a tip

Employees or officers who work in the service sector in Japan are not familiar with the tradition of giving a tip. For those very taboo received a tip from a guest because they felt it was paid for the work they do. If you keep giving them will remain refund.

4. You must open your footwear

In Japan (and possibly other Asian countries), open footwear when entering the house/apartment/hotel room, or even some restaurants are typical. Therefore, it is advisable to wear socks, so the when you have to take off my shoes, you will still be wearing something as footwear.

When you visit a house/apartment to the Japanese, before entering the house, guests will be offered the usual slippers. Use our feet were socks or stockings. Replace sandals with special slippers that are utilized in the toilet when we go to the bathroom.

Leave the shoes we wear in a state lined up neatly, and for service to the guests, the hostess will be smoothed and the location of our shoes outside the house facing so that we can immediately use it again when leaving the house.

You must open your footwear

5. Do not flaunt your tattoos

If in other countries tattooing is an art, unlike in Japan. You will be considered as part of a mafia gang. So do not show off a tattoo in a common area, if you do not want to be shunned by the local people. This point is one of the things to know about Japanese Culture.

6. Facts about toilets in Japan

Toilets in Japan are usually incorporated in the bathroom. There are two types of toilets in Japan are the type to sit and type of squat. Whatever the type is not available bailer or bucket to flush the toilet. Use a toilet paper available for self-cleaning, so the not wet the toilet is usually always in a dry state.

Close again latrines that have been used, not only to keep it clean, but most toilets in Japan are equipped with heaters that will retain the surface of the pit to stay warm when occupied (especially during winter). Leaving the bathroom remains open will be very influential on the electric bill next month. Trivial? Perhaps, but it is important to note.

7. Know the rules of eating in Japan

In Japanese culture, every banquet is always followed by the procedure that is relatively more formal and polite when compared to the norms of a traditional Chinese dinner. Although they both use chopsticks, bowls, and spoons duck as tools the most important meal, but still much difference.

Like, how to lift the container, accepts food with the chopsticks, also posture, how to sit, and many other things that must let you know. Arrive on time is also part of the procedure of Japanese dining etiquette. Knowing eating rules is one of the things to know about Japanese Culture.

Tatami: usually, banquets Japan held in a room called tatami, the traditional Japanese-style room bamboo mats without a chair. Here you are required to remove footwear, but still, be wearing socks. Posture when sitting cross-legged and with two-foot bent.

Chopsticks: lots of rules when eating with chopsticks. Chopsticks usually do not make swung back and forth along with hand gestures while talking or used to push the plates and bowls.

Chopsticks are not usually placed just above the table, but on a napkin, on the back of chopsticks over a bowl. Chopsticks stuck considered taboo to stand in a bowl of rice because it resembles a lit incense to pray for the souls of the deceased.

Chopsticks are usually not used for picking uniquely ruffled food in the dishes, and the food is prohibited returned when it was taken. Japanese people often say ‘Itadakimasu’ before eating and ‘Gochisosama’ after eating.

You must know the uses and how to use chopsticks.

8. Know an area forbidden to take pictures

Who does not like to take pictures when the holidays, especially to Japan because many objects that can be perpetuated. In Japan, it is not prohibited, but some areas are forbidden, namely in the Bank. Here you are not allowed to take pictures, even though from the outside or just the building alone.

Taking photos of people directly mainly pointing the camera at someone is inappropriate. Perhaps you can do a candid, but beware if caught, and the ‘object’ does not receive such treatment. For this, you should first ask whether the person may be made the object of your shots.

In the area of public crowds or tourist attractions, in particular, the use of the tripod is sometimes prohibited. So pay attention to signs, when want to take pictures in public areas.

9. The bath in Onsen

Shower in Onsen means soaking in hot tubs. There are hot tubs that are used together; there is also private. When you choose to bathe in the onsen together (cheaper, and in some hotel is part of the facility), must do the following.

The first thing is your obligatory to naked. You have to let go of all your clothes in the dressing room and only with a small towel to cover your private parts. Before plunging into the pool, you have to shower, not only to keep the body clean but also to familiarize themselves with the pool water temperature can reach 40 degrees.

Once clean, please go to the pool. Do not forget to bring a small towel, not only to cover the genitals but once you get in the pool, the towel should be placed at the top of the head. This point is one of the things to know about Japanese Culture.

Remember, this pool is only for bathing, so do jump into the pool, do not dive too. The trick is to gradually, starting from the feet, slowly enter the upper body up to the neck.

Once in the pool, give greetings to the other. Soaking promptly, a maximum of only 20 minutes, but if only 10 minutes you feel dizzy, get out of the pool. This may be because your body can not take the heat, or the smell of minerals contained in the water makes you dizzy.

Finished soaking, you have to bathe again in a bathroom before soaking. In some onsen provide a locker room that is equipped with a hairdryer. Do not forget to drink plenty after soaking.

The bath in Onsen

10. Rules when using public transport

When traveling in Japan by the use of public transport, which must be considered is the use of your mobile phone, smoking, food and drinks. Eating, drinking, and smoking is prohibited in public transport, particularly rail.

Mobile phones should be switched to silent mode. At peak hours, do not ever bring big luggage like a purse or briefcase in large quantities. You will receive complaints from other passengers if it anyway.

In every public transport, priority seats are usually reserved for the elderly, the disabled/sick people, pregnant women, or those with infants. If you are not one of these four categories, do not try to possess it. This point is one of the things to know about Japanese Culture.

While in public transportation, staring at someone is taboo. Rather difficult indeed if the state of the train was full because visibility is very short with others. Therefore most Japanese people are always busy snobs like reading newspapers, play games, check the mobile phone, or pretend to read ads at the top on the wall of the train.

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Other Japanese Articles that you must read:

Things to know about Japanese Culture – Japanese people appreciate outsiders who respect the customs and culture of Japan. So if you are in Japan try to respect their customs, or at least you are not opposed to them.

Here’s an article on 10 Things to know about Japanese Culture if you visit or travel to Japan. So, just practice what I wrote in the above article for the convenience of your trip to the land of the rising sun.

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